Relics in Middle-earth

[Erestor Arcamen]

Thanks! Though that, as I feared, doesn't give the size of the larger stones. However, it seems clear that all were small enough to be placed in a depression in a "table" -- that would seem to mitigate against something very large. Something over three feet would appear -- to me at least -- to be unlikely, though I admit I have no definitive proof of this.

I'd say that about three feet would fit the description of being too heavy for one man to lift; anything larger would I think, call for mention of several men.

Yeah I didn't see actual dimensions but it did say the smaller ones were about a foot in diameter (does it use metrics in non-US texts?) and the larger ones couldn't be lifted by a one man.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

(does it use metrics in non-US texts?)

Good grief, I hope not! Would leagues be changed to kilometers?

 

[Alcuin]

I’m just passing through today, but this caught my eye as I was preparing to post on another thread that appeared in the Tolkien Monthly Newsletter. (Brilliant, that newsletter!)

The Stone of Erech was indeed in the drafts supposed to be a palantír. As the story was rewritten, however, it became “merely” a large stone brought by Isildur from Númenor; exactly how large was in fact the first thread in which I posted at TTF many years ago.

After many years of reflection (which is no reflection on anyone whose time of reflection on the subject is shorter or longer), Tolkien describes the stone as “the height of a man, though its half was buried in the ground.” That would indicate that 6 or more feet tall: in Unfinished Tales in the section on “Númenórean Linear Measures”, Tolkien says the Dúnedain considered “man-high” to be two rangar, which works out to be six feet four inches in Imperial (and American) measure. So the thing was huge – and heavy!

That brings us to the discussion in this thread between Squint-eyed Southerner and JPMaximilian (a belated welcome to you, JPMaximilian) about why anyone would bother hauling such a large artifact in such difficult conditions so far inland. Consider:

1. the Stone unquestionably came to Middle-earth from Númenor;
2. because it was at least 12, maybe 13 feet (3½–4 meters) in diameter, it was extremely large, heavy, and cumbersome for transport by ship;
3. the Faithful who were fleeing Númenor were in the harbor of Rómenna essentially under siege after being driven from their homes, mostly in western Númenor;
4. getting things aboard ship might have required smuggling; and besides
5. Isildur was being hunted for stealing a fruit of Nimloth, the White Tree of Númenor, was terribly wounded, and though they might not have known who stole the fruit, all the Faithful, especially members of Elendil’s household, were suspect.

So what could be the origin of the Black Stone of Erech?

I have two propositions that I will offer today; others may come to mind as you ponder the questions yourselves.

1. The Stone might be from Meneltarma. Meneltarma is unquestionably a volcano, and volcanoes are the source of obsidian, a volcanic glass that is often deep black in color. Meneltarma was also the “holy mountain” of Númenor and the only site of the public worship of Eru in the history of the Dúnedain: that would make it worth the effort and risk of transporting it to Middle-earth, particularly if the stone was originally from the hallowed summit of the mountain.
2. The stone might be a gift of the Eldar to the Dúnedain brought from the Uttermost West. Its exact origins are perhaps buried deep in Time, and lost or forgotten by the Dúnedain of the late Third Age. In any event, it was likely from Valinor itself (unless Tol Eressëa was also volcanic), and so hallowed by its origin. Again, this would explain the effort and risk the Númenórean Faithful took in its transport to Middle-earth.

Both of those explanations also provide a “reason” for the sacred nature of any oath taken on the stone, and why such an oath would be binding.

As for why the thing was brought so far inland, I suggest that, like Elendil’s tomb on the north side of the White Mountains, it was very nearly the center of the original kingdom of Gondor.

As for “relics in Middle-earth”, I think the Barrow-swords, though made in Middle-earth during the second millennium of the Third Age, certainly qualify. The palantíri, of immense age, do, too. There is also the sword Narsil, reforged as Andúril; the Ring of Barahir, given to him by Finrod, made in Eldamar in the distant past, given to Arwen by Aragorn as a sign of their betrothal (an engagement ring, if you will); the library in Minas Tirith, including the scroll of Isildur and probably books and scrolls written in Númenor; the Rings of Power, even shorn of their properties after the destruction of the One Ring (if any survived the ruin of Barad-dûr); and the Sceptre of Annúminas, which Appendix A describes as “perhaps the most ancient work of Men’s hands now preserved in Middle-earth.” To this we can add both Elendilmir, the one Aragorn wore at his coronation, and the one Isildur lost that Saruman discovered and hid, a thing of immense beauty and age; the sword Orcrist, which remained in the Lonely Mountain; the short sword (or long dagger) Sting, which can be argued to have been left with Sam when Frodo departed; the Elven-cloaks of Lórien, as well as the boats, which remained one on the east shore and one on the west shore of Nen Hithoel; and we could go on.

 

[Aukwrist]

Yeah I guess i would include "archaeological sites." I was looking more for what those alive in middle-earth the third age would consider objects similar to "relics"

The Winged Crown of the Kings of Gondor, perhaps ?

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Barliman sent me a link to an article that reminded me of this thread, so I'm appending it here:

The Ruins of Tolkien: Archaeology in the world of The Lord of the Rings

Leon Corneille-Cowell Department of Archaeology, University of York, York, UK. Email: leoncowell96 (at) gmail (dot) com Download PDF Tolkien scholarship is defined as the study of J.R.R. Tolkien’s …

jgeekstudies.org

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

This reminded me of real-world giant inland boulders, the Devils Marbles, in the Northern Territory (Australia). These are natural formations, and they are regarded as sacred by the local indigenous people.

Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In the 1950s, one of the many boulders in that place was taken to be used as a memorial over the grave of the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. It was moved 400 km south of its original location. The indigenous groups of both areas were not pleased with this, since a sacred stone from one people had been removed without permission, and the people of its new location were concerned about someone else's sacred stone being on their land.
Eventually in the late 1990s, the displaced boulder was brought back to its original site, and a new boulder (from the local area this time!) was chosen for the memorial stone.

The Stone might be from Meneltarma. Meneltarma is unquestionably a volcano, and volcanoes are the source of obsidian, a volcanic glass that is often deep black in color. Meneltarma was also the “holy mountain” of Númenor and the only site of the public worship of Eru in the history of the Dúnedain: that would make it worth the effort and risk of transporting it to Middle-earth, particularly if the stone was originally from the hallowed summit of the mountain.

I like this idea for the Stone of Erech.

 

[Muskrat]

Tyrn Gorthad- the Barrow Downs- what ancient relics did those tombs conceal? Mirrormrer- Kheledzarum-how wonderful and mysterious! The Two Watchers, animated statues or what? Even Orthanc, far beyond Third Age technology. The Arkenstone of Thrain. The doors of Moria. Even the hollies on the border of Eregion and the Dead Marshes seem like places or things touched by the numinous.